Arrangement for cleaning of a ship&#39;s hull of marine growth



y 1969 J. VADSETH 4 3,443,545

ARRANGEMENT FOR CLEANING OFVA 'SHIP'S HULL OF MARINE GROWTH .Filed Dec. 2, 1966 30 fladuzl,

United States Patent Int. Cl. Bissb 59/00 US. Cl. 114-222 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An arrangement for cleaning a ships hull of marine growth which consists of a device mounted on an auxiliary craft and comprising an elongated, cylindrical brush supported in substantially vertical position and rotatable by means of a motor, characterized in that the brush is supported by a Cardan type suspension at its upper end for free pendulum movement, hanging down in the water from the auxiliary craft and arranged to be kept against the side of the ship to be cleaned by reduced static pressure caused by high velocity currents in the water between the ships side and the brush induced by the rotation of the brush. Preferably the brush is suspended from the bow of the auxiliary craft, which craft is provided with anti-friction means for abutment against the ships side to maintain the desired spacing. One or more further brushes may be attached at the lower end of the first brush, the further brush or brushes being angularly adjusted in relation to the axis of the first brush. The first brush may have a telescopic length adjustment to facilitate bringing the further brush or brushes into contact with the ship. A buoyancy container may be affixed at the lower end of the second brush.

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning a ships hull of marine growth, which device is mounted on an auxiliary craft and comprises an elongated cylindrical brush supported in substantially vertical position and arranged to be rotated by a motor.

The object of the invention is to provide such a device which is simple and rugged and which performs an effective cleaning of the ships sides and bottom, so that marine growth is removed from these surfaces.

The invention consists in an arrangement for cleaning a ships hull of marine growth which consists of a device mounted on an auxiliary craft and comprising an elongated, cylindrical brush supported in substantially vertical position and rotatable by means of a motor, characterized in that the brush is supported at its upper end for free pendulum movement, hanging down in the water from the auxiliary craft, and is arranged to be kept against the side of the ship to be cleaned by reduced static pressure caused by high velocity currents in the water between the ships side and the brush, induced by the rotation of the brush.

In this connection it should be mentioned that there have been a number of proposals concerning rotatable brush members supported from an auxiliary craft and intended for the cleaning of a ships sides. Such known devices have, however, been complicated, have not given an effective cleaning due to the fact that it has been difficult to keep the brushes effectively against the ships side, and further have required too long a time for the cleaning work, i.e. have had too small capacity. The brush according to the present invention eliminates the drawbacks of the previously known arrangements by being surely and effectively kept against the ships side or ice bottom by means of the special support provided according to the invention. The brush arrangement also has a very high capacity.

To provide a better understanding of the invention it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic elevation of the device, and

FIGURE 2 shows the same arrangement seen in plane.

In the embodiment disclosed in the drawing the arrangement is carried by an auxiliary craft 1 which by its own propeller force and/ or with the assistance of a hawser 3 and supporting wheel 4 can be moved with desired speed along the side of the ship 2 which is to be cleaned. A rather long cylindrical brush 5, for instance, of plastic material, is supported below a motor 6 freely suspended as a pendulum from the bow of the auxiliary craft by means of a suspension 7 or the like which includes a fixed horizontal rod member arranged in parallel relation to the side of the ship 2 so that the brush is capable of moving in a direction toward and away from the side of ship 2. The brush is thus freely suspended for rocking about the pivot axis and the motor. As the brush 5 is rotated, it induces a flow of water between itself and the ships side, and this is at a comparatively high velocity in the restricted space available. Consequently, there is a fall in static pressure in the zone of contact and this cause the brush to be pressed against the ships side.

At the lower end of the brush 5 there may be attached a swingable second brush which can be rotated by means of a hydraulic motor and can be swung by means of a servomotor. At the end of the second brush there may be arranged a buoyancy container which, via air hoses, communicates with an air-pressure source on board the auxiliary craft and which can be filled with water or air as desired.

An inspection platform for a frogman may be arranged between the two brushes. This platform may be used for the support of a remote controlled TV-camera.

When the cleaning device is not in use, the brushes can be lifted out of the water and secured to the side of the auxiliary craft.

More than one brush may be arranged for the extension of the first brush. The second brush preferably can be arranged also for parallel contact against the ships side by arranging the first brush to be telescopically adjustable as to length.

I claim:

1. A device for cleaning a ships hull of marine growth comprising:

support means on an auxiliary craft for supporting the device, said support means including a fixed, horizontal rod member arranged in parallel relation to the side of the ship to be cleaned;

an elongated shaft means pivotally supported at one end on said rod so as to move in a direction toward and away from the ship to be cleaned;

an elongated, cylindrical brush mounted on the free end of said shaft and hanging down in the water from the auxiliary craft; and,

a motor mounted on said shaft means near its supported end for rotating said shaft means and said brush at a speed sufficient to produce a reduced static pressure caused by high velocity currents in the water between the ships side and said brush induced by the rotation of said brush whereby said brush is maintained against the ship to be cleaned solely as a result of said reduced static pressure.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary craft 3 4 is provided with anti-friction means for abutment against FOREIGN PATENTS 57mlS slde- 18,830 9/1913 Great Britain.

References clted 8,960 8/1902. Austria. UNITED STATES PATENTS 754 222 3/1904 Lake 114 6 5 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

1,581,849 4/1926 Madsen 114-222 JAMES E. PITTENGER, Assistant Examiner. 

